Undergarment



Feb. 17, 1953 G. LEVENTHAL 2,628,353

Y UNDERGARMENT Filed oct. 18, 195o 2 s HEE'rs-sl-IEET 1 [I I I6 IN V EN TOR. 6A ams; 1. .svg/v THAI.

AT TORNE Y lll ATTORNEY 2 Sl-{EETS--SI-IEET 2 1a ijj INVENTOR. GABRIEL LEVENTHAL G. LEVENTHAL UNDERGARMENT Feb. 17, 1953 Filed Oct.

Patented Feb. 17, 1953 UNITED STATES lPATENT OFFICE- UNDERGARMENT GahrielvLeventhal, New York, N. Application October 18, 19.50, Serial No. A190,839 (c1. 2-.28)

"l" Claims.

The present invention relates generally to feminine undergarments and especially to the types known as foundation garments, girdles or pantie girdles, and which undergarrnents are designed Ato produce certain desirable effects and advantages over prevailing garments of that class, particularly at the abdominal region.

The prime purpose of undergarments of the type indicated is to provide so-called iigure control and figure-support, with the consequent restrain of not only about theY hips and back, but also about the abdominal region, although being intended to afford sufficient yield to natural, normal body movements without undue discom-` fort to the wearer. In most of such garment structures little heed is paid to the wearers anatomy,

especially as to the abdominal area which is more sensitive than other body portions and is subject to frequent variations in shape and size in the course of the day. 1 i

A serious problem with form-fitting and formshaping undergarments is their tendency of creeping upwardly, due to the generally upwardly tapering shape of the feminine torso and the pattern of the garment to conform with the latter.

The principal object of this invention is the provision of a figure-controlling, gure-shaping and form-fitting feminine undergarment which will suiciently constrict, but correctly mold without undue restrain all of the individual body sections located between the waistline and the line below the buttocks, and wherein the abdomij'nalsection or panel --of the garment possesses a preformed area to provide acertain tensionally biased; restricted `:fulness vfer*'autoi'natically conforming with size-variationof the abdominal re- 'gion d ue to the latters normal expansion and contraction, thereby not only assuring comfort to the wearer during all of the time the garment is being worn, but also providing a so-to-speak anchorage for the garment against shifting or upward creeping in that the preformed area is constantly kept under suiiicient tension to exert just enough pressure against the upper abdomi- `nal region to efect such anchorage and causing A more specific object of this invention is the provision of an abdominal section in a foundation garment which comprises a substantially leafshaped structure composed of two normally vertically stretchable like half-leaf-shaped elements, which have curved joining edges, and which elements are arranged and joined symmetrically along the frontal vertical center line of the garment, and which elements become pre-shapedby means of their curved joining edges to provide a certain, automatically adjustable iulness at their upper middle areas and wherein means are provided with said elements to restrictl their inherent tendency of expanding or' stretching in vertical direction at that middle area, while a relatively shortv portion at their upper ends and a relatively longer portion at their lower ends adjacent said restricted middle areal are4 free to expand vertically, and wherein the vertical joining area of the two elements is reinforced by a non-expansible or inert element in such a manner that the vfulness effect imparted to the two-normally stretchable elements remains unimpaired, said inert element serving as a restrainingiactor against expansion of a relatively narrow vertical central area along which the two symmetrical elements are united, without affecting the resiliency especially of the longer, lower end portions of the elements, which latter are intended to exert some restrain against the groin area of the wearer.

f Another specific object of the present invention is the provision of a foundation garment 'con- Ystructed of virtually only four major singlet-ply components, that is twoalike loin sections made from material stretchable both in vertical and horizontal directions, a buttocks section or panel made from material stretchable in vertical direction only and assuming substantially the shape'of an inverted letter V, and a substantially leafshaped abdominal section or panel, also made from material stretchable in vertical direction only, but being pre-shaped at its centralarea to provide an automatically adjustable fulness, the vertical expansibility of that Centralfarea being somewhat restricted by an arrangement of downwardly-directed chevron-like reinforcements in the form of either spaced, parallel stitches or in the form of a series of parallel strips stitched to the undersurface of that section, and which abdominal section is composed of two symmetrical Y half-leaf-shaped elements having curved joining edges secured along the vertical center line at the front of the garment by means of a noni-resilient band or strip so that the self-adjustable fulness Awhereas numeral -frontal or abdominal panel, and numeral I3 the The foregoing and other objects and advan-r tages of this invention will become more clearly unders-tood from the ensuing description in connection with the accompanying drawings, emr-W bodying the structural features andv arrangement of the essential elements ofwhich the garment 4 is composed, and in which drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the garment constructed in accordance with the present invention, disclosing Vthe preformed, automatically adjustablerand tensionally biased abdominal panel;

Fig.' 2 is a rear elevation of the garment;

` Fig. 3 is an exploded plan view of the various elements of the garmen-t in one of its embodiments, prior to the union of these elements;

' Fig. 4 is a detail inside plan View of the abdominal panel, in one Vof its forms;

' Fig.' 5 is a'fragmental interior plan View of the front garment portion, in one of its embodiments; Fig; 6 is a sectional view approximately along line 6-6- of Fig. l;

' Fig. 7 isa sec-tional view taken approximately along line 1-1 of Fig. 1;

' Fig. 8 is a plan view of the two abdominal panel elements without reinforcements and showing their curved joining edges;

Fig. 9 is an interior plan view of a preformed `abdominal panel disclosing a modified reinforcebment at its4 upper middle area;

Fig. 1I) is a similar illustration of the abdominal panel constructed in conformity with either Figs.

In'the Figures 1 to 8 and 11 numerals I0 and II denoterthe loin or side panels of the garment, I2 generally indicates the buttocks or rear panel. Loin panels I and II are preferably constructed in continuous pieces made from two-way expansible material, as indicated by the crossed arrows, whereas the buttocks panel I3 constitutes a single element which is expansible in vertical direction only and takes the shape substantially of an inverted letter V.

In other words, its upper end I4 is narrow, while its lower end I5 is substantially wider, but the f widest portion of panel I3 is in the vicinity indicated at I6, corresponding to the position of the buttocks.

Abdominal panel I2, shown in exploded view in i Fig. 3 and in its completed shape in Fig. 4, is

made of two elements I1 and I8, both expansible n 'in vertical direction only, their joining edges Y' beingcurved as at I'I' and I8.

This abdominal panel with its elements united, along their curved joining edges is substantially in the shape of a leaf having narrow ends I9 and 2D and gradually enlarging in width and being Widest at its upper portion between points 2I, as shown in Figs. l, 3 and 4, and which widest portion corresponds to thevicinity of the outward bulge of the abdomen.

elements become not only preformed by joining wardly. After reinforcing the two elements I1 and I8, by means of the chevron stitching, they are united along their curved joining edges by meanspflongitudinal strip 24 placed in rear of theseedges as clearly seen in Fig. 4, said strip and the -elemen-ts being secured together by a series of four parallel vertical rows of stitches 24. 'Theattachment of strip 24 does not in any way impair the fulness imparted to elements I'I and I8 by their curved joining edges, and the same applies to reinforcing stitches 22, as may be observed from Figs. 6 and 7.

'I'he outer curved edges 25 and 26 of elements II'and IB are joinedwith the correspondingly curved edges 21 and 28 of panels I0 and I I. 'I'he connection between the abdominal panel and the two loin panels is preferably affected byfeather stitching 29 and a similar'feather stitching 30 is employed for joining the outer edges of buttocks panel I3 with the rear edges of panels I0 and II.

The upper and lower edges of the garment are reinforced by peripherally expansible tapes or bands 3| and 32, respectively, which are attached by way of zigzag stitching 33.

In order to facilitate the attachment of hose there are provided front and rear garters 34 and 35, respectively, extending from the lower edge of the garment.

In Figs. 3 to '7 the reinforcing tape 24 in back yof the curved joining edges of elements I'I and I8 is made of inert or non-expansible material,

Vand inasmuch as this strip is attached without stantially longer lower areas 36 of half-leaf-like elements I and I8 are not restricted in their unrestricted resiliency of these upper and lower is kept under tension in vertical direction. Additionally they exert pressure upon the areas above and below the preformed abdominal part; and the lower areas 36 have the tendency of pressing against the groin region. Moreover, abdominal panel I2 is held constantly under tension by loin panels I I and I2. In consequence of the preformed area of panel I2 being tensionally biased in all directions, it will have the tendency of flattening, but will accommodate the natural variations in size oi the abdominal region of the wearer, without even losing its function as an anchorage against the creeping o-r shifting of the garment, thus providing not only abdominal, but

Y overall comfort and security in wear at all times.

`In this embodiment the central portions of these i Y Fig. 8, illustrating in plan view the abdominal panel elements II and I8 without reinforcement of any kind, clearly indicates their relative position prior to their union and the separation of theirr curved joining edges I1 andl I8. This basic construction of the panel elements is employed in the modified forms shown in Figs'. 9

dominal panel is reinforced, thus being restricted.

in its vertical expansibility. Of course the upper ends 35' as well as the lower corners of the ele? ments 36 are free to expand and are designed, as stated before, to hold the restricted area of the panel under tension. It will be again seen that the upper free or expansible areas are considerably shorter than the lower areas, the latter having their designed function of exercising pressure against the groin.

It is preferred to employ reinforcing tapes 31 of the same inert quality and advantageously of the same width as vertical reinforcing strip 2e.

In Fig. a construction similar to that shown in Fig. 9 is illustrated wherein a relatively larger number of substantially narrower reinforcing strips 39 are employed at the upper middle area of abdominal panel I2 without change in the vertical central reinforcing strip 24.

The reinforcing strips 3l in Fig. 9 and strips 39 in Fig. 10 are so stitched to the material of the panel elements that their attachment appears at the front of the panel shown in Fig. l1 as a uniformly spaced series of chevron-like stitching similar to that illustrated in Figs. 1, 3 and 4.

Through the strip reinforcements 3l or 39 panel elements Il and I8", and I'l" and |8'" in Figs. 9 and 10 render the upper middle portion of the abdominal panel relatively stiff in their preformed shapes. That imparted stiffness is instrumental in providing a more accentuated desired iiattening effect of the preformed abdominal portion of the panel induced by the combined action of the free upper and lower expansible portions 35 and 35 and 36' and 36" of the panels shown in Figs. 9 and 10, and the action of the two-way expansible loin panels l0 and Il.

In the drawing an undergarment of only the girdle type is illustrated. Obviously the same o-r similar structures of preformed abdominal panels maybe employed for corsets, panty girdles or 'any othernkind of undergarments with equallygfgood results of restrictingly accommodating the abdomen in its periodical expansion and contraction, and at the same time anchoring the garment in place.

What is claimed as new is:

l. In a garment of the figure-controlling, formiitting and form-shaping type, a structure cornposed of but four major interunited parts, that is, two alike side or loin panels made from material stretchable in both vertical and horizontal directions, a buttocks or rear panel having a relatively narrow top end and a substantially wider 'bottom end and being stretchable in vertical direction only, and an abdominal panel stretchable in vertical direction only and having a vertically preformed portion to provide a limited fulness at its upper central area and having restricting reinforcements along its vertical center line for partly limiting vertical elongation of they panel vsubstantially l'along that liner and wherein said vertically preformed4 portion yconsists of'two symmetrical, elongated elements having originally curved'interiorjoining edges fixedly `secured together along said vertical reinforcements, and wherein said elements have relatively small upper and relativelylarger lower 'end' areas which are rendered free to expand vertically, while the areas of the elements between their upper and lower areas arey provided with means for restricting their inherent tendency of .expanding 'in vertical direction.

2. In a garment according to claim I, inwhich the rear panel is shaped to substantially an lnverted letter V.

3. In a garment according to claim 1, in which said restricting means of the pre-shaped portion of said abdominal panel constitutes a plurality of downwardly directed chevron-like, parallel stitches starting a relatively short distance below the top end of the panel and terminating substantially above its bottom end for restricting the inherent vertical expansi'bility of that preshaped portion of the abdominal panel.

4. In a garment according to claim 1, wherein the abdominal panel constitutes a substantially leaf-shaped structure which is broadest at its upper, central area, while both the upper and lower areas of the panel gradually taper from that central area towards their respective termini.

5. In a garment according to claim 1, wherein the abdominal panel comprises two individual, substantially half-leaf-shaped, symmetrical elements united at their originally curved, substan tially vertical interior joining edges along the vertical front center line of the garment, and

. wherein both elements, upon their union, are

caused to provide a certain fulness at their upper central areas, and wherein the union of the interior joining edges of the elements is accomplished by the employment of an inert strip placed against the interior faces along these edges, said strip being secured to the elements by a series of vertical stitches without restricting their preformed fulness.

6. A garment of the character indicated, comprising a plurality of interconnected panels. at least one of them forming the abdominal panel, the latter being vertically stretchable and comprising two like sections having curved joining edges connected together along the verticalcenter line of the panel, whereby the panel becomes vertically preformed to provide a self-adjusting fulness at its upper jcentral area, the corresponding central areas of the two panel sections being provided with reinforcements for limiting their vertical expansion at those'areas, the panel sections having vertically stretchable upper and lower areas adjacent their reinforced central areas, and vertically disposed inert reiny forcement extending along the joined edges of the sections and extending beyond the upper and lower limits of their reinforced central areas.

'7. The combination with a foundation garment, of an abdominalpanel having a tensionally biased, centrally reinforced middle abdominal area which is preformed along its vertical center line and having non-reinforced upper and lower end areas stretchable one-directionally and being adapted to hold that centrally reinforced middle area under vertical tension, the lower end areas being designed to bear against the groin of the wearer, and at least one nonexpansible vertical element extending centrally Valong the entire height of the panel for restrict- Ving vertical stretching thereof along its vertical .center line; said panel comprising a pair of independent, symmetrical sections having curved joining edges for effecting, when joined, the preforming of the upper middle abdominal reinforced area of the panel.

GABRIEL LEVENTHAL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the Iileof this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Number 

